Stealth run out of gas in second half of weekend doubleheader, lose to Swarm to fall to 1-6

The Stealth, playing on back-to-back nights in a National Lacrosse League scheduling quirk, were knotted with the Georgia Swarm at 9-9 in the third quarter on Saturday but then gave up six straight goals en route to a 16-12 setback at the Langley Events Centre.

Vancouver, who lost 14-13 in Denver on Friday to the Colorado Mammoth, are now 1-6.

It’s their lone weekend doubleheader of the 18-game regular season. They, oddly enough, were coming off a bye week.

Not surprisingly, Vancouver didn’t get a goal Saturday from any of their defenders or transition players. They had 15 goals from those players in their first six games.

Forward Logan Schuss led the way offensively in the loss, with three goals and five assists. He played his first two years in the NLL with the Swarm, who were then based in Minnesota. The Stealth landed Schuss in a March, 2015 trade, in exchange for Johnny Powless.

Powless, who had been Vancouver’s ballyhooed off-season acquisition going into that 2015 campaign, had one goal and two assists for the Swarm Saturday, which marked his first game back at the LEC.

Vancouver also received three goals and two assists from both Corey Small and Joel McCready, while Rhys Duch had one goal and four helpers and James Rahe supplied two goals and one assist.

Shayne Jackson led the way for Swarm (3-3) with two goals and seven assists. Lyle Thompson had three goals and three assists.

Announced attendance was 3,423.

Even with their lacklustre start, Vancouver isn’t out of the playoff hunt. Three of the four teams in the West Division make the post-season. The Calgary Roughnecks are 1-5.

Vancouver is back at it next Saturday, visiting the West-leading Saskatchewan Rush (5-1) in Saskatoon. They’re home to the Rush on Feb. 10.

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